IDRA Statements 2026

Below are IDRA advocacy statements and comments on federal policy in 2026. For statements and testimony specific to Georgia and Texas, see their individual advocacy news pages.

Federal Vouchers Will Harm Students and Public Schools – New regulations double down on the harms of the federal voucher scheme, at the expense of public education, IDRA Statement, October 15, 2026

IDRA Comment on Proposed Rule to Force English-Only Instruction in Head Start – IDRA Comments on Proposed Rule “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs” (Docket Number ACF-2026-0595). Submitted via portal to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, October 6, 2026

Public Comment urging the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw the rescission proposal “Proposed Rule Rescinding the Equity Assistance Center Program Regulations Docket ID ED-2026-OESE-0958, RIN 1810-AB72,” July 27, 2026

Public Comment opposing the proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, because it would reduce transparency, introduce uncertainty into federal grantmaking, weaken evidence-based decision-making, and undermine longstanding federal commitments to nondiscrimination and educational opportunity, July 13, 2026

State and School Leaders Must Act to Protect All Students’ Equal Educational Opportunity – U.S. Supreme Court Condones Discrimination Against Transgender Women and Girl Student Athletes, June 30, 2026

State Leaders Must Invest in Bilingual Education to Guard Against Federal Funding Shortfalls, IDRA Testimony to the Texas House Public Education Committee on the Interim Charge Relating to Monitoring House Bill 2 (89R), Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., June 1, 2026

Congress Must Strengthen Funding for and Oversight of the Office for Civil Rights, Remarks submitted by Lisa Youngblood in Congressional Briefing on How Weakening the Office for Civil Rights Harms Students and Families, May 27, 2026

Diminished Support is Deliberate Indifference, Remarks submitted by Tracy Kemp in Congressional Briefing on How Weakening the Office for Civil Rights Harms Students and Families, May 27, 2026

Feature article: The Federal Voucher Program – Doubling Down on Harming Students and Public Schools, March 28, 2026

What to Watch! Texas Private School Vouchers Go Live Amid Questions About Cost, Oversight and Impact, February 4, 2026

Georgia Opts into Federal Voucher Program as Public Schools Face Funding Strain – IDRA urges state leaders to recommit to fully funding Georgia’s public schools instead of expanding privatization, January 20, 2026

Federal Civil Rights Protections for Students are Unraveling – Major News Outlets Cite IDRA Experts and Families as Racism Complaints Remain Unresolved, January 7, 2026

IDRA is an independent, non-profit organization led by Celina Moreno, J.D. Our mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college.